On the weekend of September 11-12, 2004 four like minded people got
together to build the infamous PDRacer
sailboat. First suggested by Mike Matthews, Scott Stanley, Phil
Rollet, and Mike Allison decided "why not?". Mike M graciously offered
the use of his garage as construction central. We picked a date and pre
purchased the majority of the plywood, bracing wood, glue, screws, and
adult malted beverages.
With supplies in hand, a date confirmed, we collected tools and
converged upon Mike M's place early Saturday morning. Knowing that some
of us had other commitments, we set forth the goal of completing as
many hull shells as possible. Scott was able to stay all Saturday, both
Mike A and Phil had family obligations on Saturday afternoon. Mike A
and Phil expected to return on Sunday morning. Mike M's mom, Nancy, was
able to join us for the building. While not building a boat herself, we
expect her to officiate at our future races.
Garage Bay #1, the "cutting room"
Phil was first off the mark to cut his side pieces
While Phil separated the boat shaped pieces from the scrap shapped
pieces, the rest of us started layout work
Scott's turn to search out the elusive hull profile
Check the chine logs BEFORE we
screwed them onto the sides...
This is what happens when the
logs are too thick!
All the while, our faithful mascot Brownie tried to stay out of our
way, and find some shade. On Saturday the temperature was pushing the
high 90's (F).
At the end of Saturday we managed to show off four sets of racer sides!
There's a couple of boats lurking about here.
On Sunday, Phil brought his son Alex to help out.
With a bow and transom, this is starting to look like a boat!
Add the last major piece, the floor
It really is a boat, the plans didn't lie after all
End of the build-a-thon left us with three hulls, and three tired
builders. From the left are Mike Matthews, Mike Allison, and Phil
Rollet.
Next step is to add the internal structure (air boxes, mast mounts),
build the lee board, rudder, and finish the boat with our fave color of
paint. Somehwere in the process we've got to decide upon a sail rig
(deciding is the hardest part).
